A Poll: Breastfeeding In Public
In true Surprisingly Sane fashion, I am having one of those damn, I hate [insert random object of my dislike here] days.
Today’s topic?
Loading ...As always, your answer is anonymous, even to me.
People who think breastfeeding in public is vulgar piss me off in ways I can’t even begin to describe.
Rarely do I feel black or white on an issue, but this is one area in which I will be admit to being a close-minded bitch. I think moms shouldn’t be forced to “cover up” while they do it. Period. Don’t like it? Don’t watch.
I fail to understand how feeding a baby the way nature and God intended is something that needs to be hidden. It doesn’t make sense to me, and no amount of debate has ever wavered my position on this topic.
I don’t consider breasts to be dirty or vulgar or sexual in any way, shape, or form when they’re being used to nourish our children. Did I flaunt them and make a big scene while nursing in public? No- I was discreet and usually did cover up while doing it. But I think it’s downright stupid that the reason I did it was because society taught me it was something natural that I had to be ashamed about.
I mean, come on, it’s not like we’re masturbating in public when we’re breastfeeding. We’re feeding our babies, and there’s nothing disgusting about that.
Current Mood:
Angry
Tags: breastfeeding
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 am
I put no. I did my best not to flash the whole world, but I’m sure people got a peek here and there and that’s fine.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
I put other, but I have a reason. I have never before cared about public breastfeeding or whether people do it or not, but the other day, no joke, I was walking down the hall at school and a mom popped out a boob for a 4 year old. The 4 year old was going to pre-k here at the school. I was disturbed. If you are going to BF your 4YO then dont do it in public, a newborn, not so much. I personally though would cover up when BF because I dont want other men to see me. Thats just me though.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
Ah, yes… Dana… I definitely agree that there are some boundaries (in this country particularly).
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
I had to select other. I believe in being discreet, but I got angry last time i went to the Tucson Mall and saw that they actually have special breastfeeding rooms right next to the bathroom. Fuck you Tucson Mall. However, a girl in my class told a story about a lady and her kid in Olive Garden. The kid was about 3, walked up to his mom and opened her shirt, boobs went everywhere. My friend had to explain to her kids what was going on. (not going into my opinions on bf toddlers). That type of situation should not happen unless they are in the privacy of their home. Breastfeeding in public should be allowed though
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 am
I think breastfeeding is natural, and simply, beautiful. There should be no need to “cover up” when you are feeding your child. My mom, however, think breastfeeding is totally un-natural. We were never breastfed; she never even considered it. I am not sure why, but she thinks it is disgusting. She makes no sense to me. I try my best to be tolerant of people with views like this, but what did women year and years ago do before bottles? They breastfed! There’s a reason why God gave us breasts, as annoying as obtrusive as they can be.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:44 am
i also put “other”. i am still BFing my 14 month old, but just in our rocking chair before nap, and before bedtime. i wouldn’t whip out my boob in the middle of the mall to nurse a child that is perfectly capable of getting a cup of water and cheerios for a snack.
however, when E was an infant, i had no problem covering up and nursing her in public. i have no problem with public nursing… i covered up because i personally didn’t want to get stared at. if i was in another country where it was the norm, i wouldn’t worry about it.
that being said, i think that extended BFing (2 years +) is just creepy. people can flame me all they want for saying this, but a child does not need mother’s milk over the age of 2. it’s not natural- most 2 year olds have a full set of teeth so they can chew solids, NOT boob.
the last point i’d like to add, is that while i have NO problems with public bfing, i think that mother’s who go as far as to pull their shirts down, baring shoulder and whole boob just to make a bfing statement are going a bit too far. there’s a place for everything… for example, i’d wear a bikini on a public beach or waterpark, but i wouldn’t walk around walmart in one, ya know?
but that’s just me…
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I agree with you on all points Tamra! We have a Victoria’s Secret in our mall I see more skin in their window ads than I have even seen when a mother is nursing. Why is it okay to have half naked women pictured all over the store but not okay for a mother to nurse her child?
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I said “no”, but then I’m pro nudity.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I’m absolutely all for breast feeding in public. I would never whip my boob out in front of everyone because that would most likely make some people uncomfortable, but hell, everyone else gets to eat in public, why shouldn’t a baby?
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:17 pm
When I was breastfeeding I covered up, and usually I went to a nursing room (at the mall) or out to the car (anywhere else). I’m a very modest person and nudity makes me uncomfortable. When I see mothers breastfeeding uncovered I make a point not to look their direction, but I honestly would feel more comfortable if they covered up (please don’t hate me). Not that I disagree with breast-feeding in public or that I don’t think a woman’s body is beautiful … nudity just makes me uncomfortable. I’m that way with other situations though too. Nude photographs make me uncomfortable too. And sometimes bathing suits make me uncomfortable. So my completely, 100% honest answer would have to be that yes, I would prefer for women to cover up when breastfeeding, but I don’t think there needs to be a law or rule that *makes* women cover up, because I do think it should be a personal choice.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I don’t hate you
. I just hate when people make a huge thing of how ALL WOMEN SHOULD COVER UP ‘CAUSE IT’S VULGAR! Being uncomfortable with nudity and saying breastfeeding is a dirty thing are two very different things. Heck, I covered up around my family because I felt uncomfortable nursing around them!
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I agree with Devin on a lot of counts. I voted “it depends”. Whereas I don’t think there should ever be formal rules about whether or not a woman breastfeeds in public, I definitely think there is common courtesy and social mores regarding it. Breastfeeding is, indeed, a very natural and normal (and not disgusting at all) thing, but so is sex, and going to the bathroom. It doesn’t mean you do it in front of everyone. There’s a time and place for everything.
And just so I make myself clear, I’m not against breastfeeding in public places. I’m sure I will do it wen I have children. Granted, I will drape a blanket or something (but I’ve seen plenty of people manage to remain completely modest sans a cover-up). But there are definitely places where I would leave the situation and opt for a more private location.
And just as an anecdote: I used to work at a retailer, and the policy was if a woman wanted to breastfeed in private, she got a “go to the head of the line” pass for the fitting rooms. And once there was a lady who was BF-ing as she was shopping and another lady made a HUGE stink about it. She followed the mother around and would complain loudly (very mature, I know). And when she complained to management, the manager simply said, “We can’t tell a mother to stop feeding her child. If you don’t like it, you are free to leave.” Unfortunately, it didn’t work, and the lady kept belly-aching loudly about it all. It made me angry.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:37 am
I voted no but when I breastfed my kids I did cover up. Not because I felt like I had to but because I found it more respectful to my husband that no one but him sees the goodies. I don’t know maybe thats weird.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
New reader just going through your posts. I have to say if it were a situation where it was only other adults around, then they need to suck it up and put their big kid panties on and understand it’s a mothers RIGHT to how and when she will feed her child. That being said, I thinka woman needs to respect other parents wishes and cover up when around other children. Some people like me and my fiance don’t want our son exposed to that, and don’t plan on breastfeeding past the 1 year mark. I have seen many toddlers who are still being breastfed and I think they develope an unhealthy interest in boobs, everyones boobs. I wouldn’t want my son to think he could go up to any woman and grab her boobs because he is now old enough to know when a woman is breastfeeding. KWIM? I also have the kind of significant other who is very modest, and heaven forbid I be out and my bra strap show lol. So while I could care less about seeing some shoulder, I myself will be covering up when I feed my son out of respect for my fiance.
October 24th, 2009 at 11:15 am
My personal thought is that covering up should be a choice, not a must. I was able to nurse both my girls without a cover while never exposing a single thing to anyone else. I don’t mind other people sticking within their comfort zones… I actually rarely nursed in public (unless it was the dance community, which was actually really great about it) just because I wasn’t comfortable with other people getting a peek at my goods. I don’t mind people sticking within their modesty comfort zones, it’s when people start flappin’ their jaws about how nursing is a dirty thing that should never be done in public that I get irritated.